Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced the Equitable Access to School Facilities Act to make it easier for charter schools to access public property and provide federal grants to states for charter school facilities. The grants, available from the Federal Charter Schools Program, can be used by charter schools to acquire and renovate existing facilities, cover ongoing facilities costs, or create a reserve fund for future acquisition, renovation, or maintenance.

Link to Congressional Bill

We helped CO grassroots folks prepare for a meeting with Sen. Bennet's Education Policy Staff to learn more.

Under current law, the independent ethics commission created in article XXIX of the state constitution does not have jurisdiction over officials or employees of special districts or school districts. This gap became obvious to communities that were attacked by far-right extremists, such as those in chool districts in Woodland Park, Colorado Springs, Poudre Valley, Thompson, Montezuma-Cortez, Elizabeth, and Garfield. The experiences were eerily similar to what resulted in the 2015 Board recall in JeffCO and the ongoing the “Reformers” conflict in Douglas County.

Legislators attempted to close the gap that many community members see as loophole that further empowers lawyers and activists. In both 2023 and 2024, a bill that would add school boards to the jurisdiction of the Independent Ethics Commision passed in the CO House. Both years it was held up in Appropriations. Many voters want to know why Democratic Legislative Leaders held this bill.

HB23-1065, Local Government Independent Ethics Commission

HB24-1073, Independent Ethics Commission Jurisdiction

2024 Fact Sheet by Bill Sponsors

Website for CO Independent Ethics Commission

Toolkit for Advocates: HB 24-1073